On May 17, 2016, a captivating encounter unfolded at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam as the Rising Pune Supergiants took on the Delhi Daredevils in the 49th match of the IPL season. The match was affected by rain, utilizing the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method for its conclusion.
The Delhi Daredevils, batting first after winning the toss, struggled to build momentum against a disciplined bowling attack from the Rising Pune Supergiants. They managed to accumulate a total of 121 runs in their 20 overs, losing 6 wickets in the process. Key contributions came from Karun Nair, who top-scored with 41 runs off 43 balls, while Chris Morris provided a late surge with an unbeaten 38 off just 20 deliveries. The star of the innings, however, was the bowling performance of the Rising Pune Supergiants, led by Ashok Dinda, who took 3 wickets for just 20 runs in his 4 overs, and Adam Zampa, who claimed 3 wickets for 21 runs.
In the run chase under the D/L method, the Rising Pune Supergiants needed to reach a revised target of 95 runs in 11 overs. They made a confident start, reaching 76 runs for the loss of 1 wicket before rain intervened once again, leading to the end of the game. Ajinkya Rahane was the standout performer for the Supergiants, scoring 42 runs from 36 balls, while Usman Khawaja played a quick knock of 19 runs off 13 balls.
Ultimately, the Rising Pune Supergiants emerged victorious by 19 runs, securing an important win that propelled their campaign forward in the tournament. This match showcased the strategic nuances of T20 cricket, highlighting the impact of weather conditions and utilising the D/L method, an all-too-familiar element of the format.